Dinner for the Week

The theme for this week's meal plan is "Quick and Cheap." After S and I spent $300 stocking up at Costco last weekend, we figured we'd better try to make use of what we already have. I have found buying frozen vegetables works best for us. We were always buying fresh with the best intentions, but we were throwing away so much spoiled produce that it became apparent there HAD to be a better solution. Many nutrition experts say that frozen vegetables are just as "healthy" as fresh, and sometimes more so. The longer vegetables sit in your refrigerator, the more nutrients they lose. Frozen veggies are picked at their prime and are often frozen within hours of harvest. The freezing process locks in the freshness, thus making the frozen broccoli in your freezer a better pick than the head that's been sitting in your fridge since last Wednesday...They also taste better than canned and have no added sodium...just avoid the kind frozen in butter or cream sauce...it's not the same thing.

Monday: Tilapia with Peppers and Olives


I'll likely substitute capers for the olives, as S isn't a fan...

Tuesday: Pork Chops with Garlicky Broccoli


Wednesday: Plain-Old Whole Wheat Spaghetti and Classico Tomato Sauce


Thursday: Slow Cooker Tex Mex Chicken


Thanks to my friend Suzy for the heads-up about the delicious factor of this meal. I am MOST excited to try it!

Friday: Pizza Pot Pie by Giada...she is the QUEEN of all things delicious and Italian.


Feel free to sub in frozen veggies for fresh in these recipes or any you may be trying, just remember to thaw them in the microwave for a few minutes first!

Buon Appetito!

Vendredi ou la Vie Sauvage? Tous les Deux!

Warning: Gratuitous dog photography to follow...

So, today I kindly gave myself the day off, and spent it catching up on all the things I've been letting slide. This included washing my floors, and hanging out with the furbaby.

For many, Toronto calls to mind a monolithic concrete jungle with little green space, but this is simply not the case. Right beside my apartment is a veritable forest over 125 years old! Sherwood Park serves as a green respite for Yonge and Eglinton-ites, but it is also an off-leash park, which really appeals to my city-dog. We try to get over to the park at least once a week...understandably more often in the summertime, and less so in winter...It's a great opportunity for Loki to run free, and to socialize with other dogs which helps to teach him his place in the pecking-order of life...God knows we let him forget all too often...bad over-indulgent owners!

It's such a beautiful slice of the city that it's easy to forget I am mere feet from bustling Yonge St.

Sitting nicely, waiting to be set free...


No longer able to contain himself, he takes off at warp nine...


Altogether lovely to have such a perfect picnic spot steps from home <3


It really was a quintessential autumn morning...









We're working on developing patients...


So dressed up for the occassion...


As if to remind us that we, in fact, were still in the big city, CP24 and City TV newscasters were everywhere, as were volunteer search teams and police officers. Apparently there was a body-search going on in the forest...I guess you can never really have it all.

As an aside, my prayers are going out to young Mariam's family, please send yours as well.

J'aime Beaucoup les Détails

I have been realizing of late, that tying this whole wedding theme together is going to be more tricky than I originally thought...When I get excited about some thing I tend to over-do it, and that's what I feel is happening here. My original vision for a "simple, elegant evening" has since shifted to a "shabby-chic garden party."

In keeping with the new (and FINAL!) theme, I have corralled some really delicious wedding detail inspiration to try and keep me focused...I am definitely distracted by anything painted white and distressed...it's a curse...

I LOVE the idea of incorporating moss into the escort card display. Neither of the following pictures are quite what I have in mind, but I'll certainly keep you posted when I have created my own chef d'oeuvre...though I'm not thinking it will be for a while yet.



I abhor the ribbon on this example, but you get the idea.



My mom found EXACTLY the birdcage I was looking for at Homesense. My vision is for this little beauty to house cards on the day...once again, sans ribbon.



I LOVE the idea of creating a monogram entryway at the ceremony à la Martha...here the ribbon makes the cut.



Given that birds are a staple of shabby-chic decor, and the fact that we have a bit of an avian-theme running throughout the day, I thought these little birdies would be perfect nestled atop our cake. My original thought was monogram, but this is more unique.



Overall, I think the new theme is going come together...between the paper, and the birds, and the bees, and "Oh Happy Day," and the shabby-chic garden party and...Oh la la! What HAVE I gotten myself into?

Who am I kidding? I relish every second of this...<3